Interlocking sheet-piling.



0. s. BOARDMAN.

INTBRLOGKING SHEET FILING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1908.

' 923, 1 1 0. Patented May 25, 1909.

I I I [12 Z02. Z/Jfizesses; a 5

"UNITED? s'rATEs CHARLESSS. BOARDMAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO LACKAWANNA STEEL COM- PANY, BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

INTERL'DQKING SHEET-FILING.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. BOARD- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buflalo, in the county of Erie and State My invention relates to steel sheet piling,

of the kind which is built up of separate.

piles, provided with interlocking parts along both edges, whereby the piles, as driven,

- interlock and form a continuous wall of piling. Such piling is now being largelyused for colfer-dams; retaining walls, subfoundations, &c., as'a substitute for wooden sheet piling.

My invention lies in the production of an essentially new construction of the. piles, forming the'separate units or sections of the piling, which is economical to manufacture, is comparatively-easy to drive in all soils, and when driven produces a strong wall and affords great resistance to the unlocking, or separation, of the piles by longitudinal or lateral strains. -By thepeculiar construction of the individual piles, they may be arranged in straight alinement or at an angle to each-other, and are to a sufficient extent, free to assume the varying relations required by the alincment, the character of the soil, obstacles met in driving, &c.

Each pile consists of a web provided on each edge with a similar pair of flanges arranged toinclose a groove, or pocket, having a greater interior width than that of its mouth. The two flanges at each edge, are diflerently formed, the inner, or hook, having a laterallyelongated, or enlarged, head or edge, which is shorter than the width of the pocket but longer than the width of the mouth, and the outer, or guard, preferably curved and adapted to engage with the outer surface of the hook on the adjacent pile.

In the drawings herewith I have shown my invention embodied in a desirable form of pile.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of several interlocking sections or pile units embodying the invention, showing the construction and arrangement. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view'showing the arrangement of the adjacent piles at an angle to each other.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing a pile Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed June aiecs. seria no. 437,072.

Patented May 25, 1909.

slightly modified as to the arrangement of the flanges.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Each pile consists of a web A and on each I edge thereof a hook or inner flange B, and

a guard, or outer flange, C. The hookand guard, which I call respectively the thumb and the finger, are arranged to form, or toinclose, a groove, or pocket D,

sufficiently large to receive freely the hook on the adjacent pile, permitting free driving, reception of displaced material, and sufficient, but not excessive, longitudinal or lateral movement of the hook in the groove.

The groove or pocket D has a longitudinal mouth or opening E between the ends of the thumb and finger flanges which is somewhat less in width than the greatest internal width of the pocket.

The thumb or hook D is provided with an elongated edge, or head, I) which is enough shorter than the extreme width of the. groove or pocket D so that the piles will drive freely, and is longer than the width of the mouth E, so that the piles can only be unlocked or separated, longitudinally,-by a strain strong enough to distort both flanges on each of the two adjacent piles forming the interlock in question.

The finger or guard O overlaps a portion of .the outer surface of the hook on the adjacent pile, thus preventing lateral displacement of the piles and cooperating to prevent longitudinal displacement. The inner face of the guard is substantially concentric with the outer segmental cylindrical face of the hook on the next pile, so that adjacent piles may be turned one on the other to be arranged at any suitable angle, as indicated in Fig. 3, for instance to form a corner, an inclosiire, &c. By this arrangement the piles, as driven, are free to assume varying relations with reference to each other,

whereby my piling adapts itself in driving to the inequalities, variations and obstacles in the ground, and the general alinement f the piling is maintained and preserved w th variations in the positions of the units. Whether the pile sections are arranged in straight alinement, or at an angle, or in general alinement, with the aforesaid varymg relations, the jolnts Wlll be strong and not weakened by said changes in relation and position.

My piles are easy to drive, because the l cessive clearance permits some times the web and the interlocking flanges present at their ends comparatively thin edges at all points to the ground in which the piles are driven, and because the grooves, or pockets, are considerably larger in area than the hooks which enter them. Furthermore, as the piles are uniformly formed on both vertical edges, it makes no difierence which one of the two adjacent piles is driven first. As

' the weight is uniformly distributed on each side of the'vertieal transverse axis, vertical alinement in driving is promoted.

' Generally speaking, a portion of the soil displaced in driving becomes packed in the pocket D, obstructing the passage of water through the joint between each pair of piles,

and, as there are two of these pockets at each joint, these joints, up to ground level, are generally practically water-tight. This water-tight joint is promoted by the fact that there are three lines of contact between the flanges at each edge, that is, two outer lines, each between the guard on one pile and the hook on the other, and an inner, between thetwo hooks. As will be seen, the two outer lines are'more exposed to the action of the water, but the inner is substantially protected therefrom, thus much increasing the water-tightness of the joints. hen I say lines of contact it will be understood that there is no snug fit or actual contact, which would cause friction and render driving difficult, but merely that along these lines the flanges lie. in rather close proximity. And furthermore, these lines of contact or proximity are narrow so that the friction in driving is reduced and the driving and pulling of the sections are facilitated. \Vhen, however, the piles are driven into easily flowing soil, such as quicksand, which tends to escape from the pockets, or into hard soil, which fails to fill them, these pockets may be filled with proper substances for making the joints watertight, such as clay, cement, wooden plugs or strips, &c. This refers to filling both above and below the ground level, when the piling is driven in water.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is illustrated the normal position of the piles with reference to each other in the complete piling. It will be understood that there must be suflicient clearance between the flanges to permit free driving and some longitudinal displacement, whereby the piles, as driven, are permitted to assume slightly. varying relations and adapt themselves to the varying conditions of the soil, but such clearance must not be excessive. Too much clearance often results in spreading, more likely to occur at the bottom, resulting, as one pile after another is driven, in an excessive inclination, destroying the regularity of the wall and making difiicult the closing of openings. Such exwithout destroying the regularity and relative position of the pile sections.

My piling belongs to the so-called doubleinterlock type, as distinguished from the single interlock, inwhich latter there is a pair of flanges forming a recess along one edge only and a tongue, or head, on the other edge, which is merely an enlargement of some form to enterthe recess of the adjacent pile. In such a construction, under strain, the tongue on one pile comparatively easily spreads the flanges on the adjacent pile through a greater or less length of the section, and pulls out, thus separating the wall of piling at that point and destroying its utility, whereas in my piling the sections are held together by double interlocking flanges which alford great resistance to both longitudinal and lateral separation. Under excessive strains there is a tendency for each hook to be bent outwardly, but this is counteracted by the. engagement of both guards with the outer surfaces of the hooks. In thesingle interlock type there is but one guard to resist lateral strain, while in the double interlock,

both of the guards on opposite sides of the hooks serve to resist lateral strains in either direction. I have thus produced a pile for steel sheet piling in which the weight is somewhat diminished and the strength of the piling is greatly increased. The joint portions are rather wide, compared to the width of web, so that aconsiderable length of the wall is composed of the thicker joint portions and the whole wall is strengthened and braced thereby.

I have referred to my piling as made of steel, but it will be understood that it may be made of iron or other suitable material. However, under present conditions, such piling must be made from steel by rolling and must be complete as it comes from the rolls. My piling is of a form that can economically be rolled.

It will be understood that the width of the groove or pocket must be enough greater than the length of the hook head, that is,

there must be enough clearance, to permit free driving; but this clearance must be kept down to the minimum to prevent undue side play, for side play is undesirable on account of the tendency of the piles, under certain conditions of the soil, or bottom under water, to set off one after the other, which destroys the longitudinal alinement of the piling.

I am aware that the double lock type of piling is not \broadly new for I am acweaker lock than mine; it is furthermore;

quainted with a desirable form thereof having both edges .of the pile formed similarly with an inner hook'and an outer guard, but the .prior form vto whichl refer does not have the enlarged pocket nor the enlarged head on the hook and therefore-gives a substantially rigid at the joints, and if made sufliciently looseto permit the piles to turn one on'the other, would be too loose.

ill-claim as my invention: 1 1 1. A metal sheet pile having its two edges similarlyformed, and consisting of a web, and of a guard flange and a hook flange on each longitudinaledge of the web, said guard and hook forming a longitudinal groove havingan interior width greater than the. width of itsmmu'th, and said hook having its edge laterally enlarged, said'enlargement being less in lateral length than the interior width of the groove but greater than the ingan width of the groove mouth, and said pile be integral rolled element. a

sheet steel piling having its edges similarly formed, and consisting of a web and, on

' each edge thereof, of a pair of flanges, said flanges inclosing a longitudinal groove havinga mouth, the interior width of the groove being greater than the width of the mouth,

. one of said flangeshaving an enlarged edgeadapted to enter the groove of the adjacent pile, and-the other of said flanges operating as a guard to engage with the outer surface of the flange on the adjacent pile having the;

enlarged edge, and said pile being a onepiece rolled element.

3. A pile for sheet steel piling having its twoedges sim'ilarly'formed, saidpile being composed of a straight web, and of an in- "tegral. "outer' guard flange and an integral,

inner hook flange on each edge of the web, said flanges being outwardly curved adjacent to the web and having their outer edges I inwardly curved to inclose a longitu dinal pocket or groove having an outwardly opening month between saidflange edges, said pocket 'being. greater in interior width than the width' of the mouth, and said hook flange having an enlarged head along its edge of less. width than the interior width ofthe pocket and of greater width than the width of the pocket mouth, substantially as set forth.

,4. A metal sheet piling composed locking sections, each section comprising a flange at each' edge thereof "adapted to engage s milar members of like fornron'the (ad oining sections, the locking members of adjoining sections being free. to turn upon "each other between saidguard flanges to permitrof angular arran ement of the sections.

A metal sheet pi ing composed of interlockingv sections, each section comprising a .A pile with a double interlock for of 'inter web having a locking member and a guard* web having a locking member and a guard flange at each edge thereof adapted to engage sim-ilar members of like form on the adjoining sections, the guard flanges of each section overlapping the outer surface of the locking members of the. adjoining sections,

and the locking members of adjoining sections being free to turn upon each other between said guard. flanges to permit of angular arrangement of the sections. j

6. A metal sheet piling composed ofinterlocking sections, each section comprising a web-having a locking member and aguard' flange at each edge'thereof adapted to engage similar members of .like form on the adjoining sections, the guard flanges of each section overlapping the outer surface of the locking members of the adjacent sections and forming openings or pockets adjacent to the joints between the locking members and each .of said sections being a one-piece rolled element.

7 A metal sheetpiling composedof interlocking'sections, each section comprising a web having a hook and a guard flange at each edge thereof, said hook and guard flange forming a pocket for receiving the correspdnding hook on'the ad oining sec tion, said pocket being of a sizeand form to allow the hook whichit receives to turn flier-eim'thereby permitting the angular ar rangement of the sections, substantially as set forth. I

'8. A metal sheet piling composed of interlocking sections, each section comprising 'a web having a hook and -a guard flangeiat, 1 v

each edge thereof, said hook and guard flange forming a pocket fonreceivingthe corresponding hook on the adjoining sections, said pocket being of greater s ze than pocket adjacent to the joint between the locking members,- and each interlocking section being an integral rolled section.

9. A metal sheet piling composed of inter the hook which it receives toform a sealing.

locking sections, each section comprising a web having a hook and a guard flange at I each ed e thereof adapted to engage similar hooks'o like form on theadjoimngsections,

.the inner surface of said guard flanges and.

the outer surface of said hooks being formed concentric witheach other and with the contact surface of said hooks, wherebythehcoks are free to turn upon each other to permlt of angular arrangement of the sections, substantially as set forth.

hooks of the adjoining sectionsand forming.

openings or pockets adjacent -to the joints between the hooks and on each side thereof,

and each section being a one-piece rolled section substantially as set forth. 7 v

11. A metal sheet piling section comprising a web, a flanged locking member and a guard flange extending from opposite sides of said web at one edge thereof, said locking member having an outer face concentric with a surface part on its guard flange, and said guard flange having an inner face also concentric with the same part on said flange of the locking member, substantially as set forth. v 12, A metal sheet piling composed of intBIlOCklIlg sections, each section comprising .a webhavling a hook and'a guard flange at their extreme edges and being substantially uniformly curvedfrom the-junction with the Qweb to said outer edges.

13. A metal sheet pile, consisting of a web 1 and of a guard flange and a hook on each longitudinal edge of the web, said guard and hook forming a longitudinal groove having' 'an interior width greater than the vwidth of its mouth, said hook having its edge laterally enlarged said enlargement being less in lateral length than the interior width of thegroove, but greater than =the width. of the groove mouth, and said guard gradually diminishing in thickness toward its outer edge and ing substantially uniformly curved from its junction with theweb to said outer edge.

14. A metal sheet piling composed of interlocking sections, each section comprising I a web having a hook and aguard at each edge thereof adapted to engage similar members of like form on the adjoining section, the hooks having their edges laterally enlarged and provided with noses or ribs extending inwardly toward the guards, and the guards of each section gradually diminishing in thickness from base to outer edge, and being arranged to overlap the outer surface of the hooks of the adjacent sections and to form openings or pockets adjacent to the joints between the hooks.

15. Steel sheet piling composed of inter-' locking sections, each section comprising a web, a pair of flanges along one edge of the web and at least one'flange along the opposite edge of the web, said last flange having an enlarged head bent out of the plane of the web.

16. Steel sheet piling composed of interlocking sections, each section comprising a web, a pair of flanges along one edge of the Web, said flanges being outwardly curved adjacent to the web and having ends inwardly curved with approaching tips to form and inclose a groove having a mouth 'of less diameter than the interior width of the groove and along the opposite edge of the web at least one flange provided with an enlarged end, said end being arranged out of the plane of the web and said groove being of a size and form to allow said enlarged head on an adjacent section to turn in the groove.

Witness my hand, this 4th day of June, 1908.

CHARLES S. BOARDMAN. 

